SSE Airtricity makes record-breaking Community Fund presentation in Co. Limerick

SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s greenest home energy provider, has awarded almost €200,000 to community groups close to its wind farms in West Limerick. The presentation, which takes place tonight (Wednesday 11 February) in Templeglantine, Co. Limerick, is the company’s largest ever Community Fund payout in Ireland.

A total of 30 local groups will benefit from this year’s funding of over €197,000, including schools, sports clubs and community centres.

Through its Community Fund scheme, SSE Airtricity makes annual payments to the communities closest to its wind farms. The company has been donating to local projects in West Limerick since 2008, and this latest presentation takes its overall contribution to over €750,000.

Athea National School will be putting the money towards improving heating efficiency in their new building. The school’s principal, Margaret Watters, said: “This year’s project involves lowering the ceilings in three of our classrooms and improving insulation all round. This will make the classrooms much easier and cheaper to heat. The funding from SSE Airtricity is greatly appreciated and it ultimately allows us to make great savings on our energy bills.”

Tournafulla GAA Club will use the funds to replace the roof of their clubhouse and insulate the attic. Club Chairman, Connor O’Sullivan, commented: “This funding will allow us to finally replace the old roof, which will save the club a significant amount in heating costs.”

Many of the community groups are putting this latest funding towards greater energy efficiency.Christy Walsh of Templeglantine Community Council, said: “SSE Airtricity’s funding over the last few years has enabled us to revive the Templeglantine Community Hall, which is now a landmark building for all to be proud of. The energy efficient measures we’ve been able to put in place have dramatically reduced the heat loss from the hall.”

Other projects being supported range from installing a solar water-heating system at the Ardagh Leisure Centre to fitting energy efficient sports lighting at Abbeyfeale United’s training ground.

Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said:

“We’re always proud to make a positive difference to local communities, and it’s great to be able to help so many projects with this latest contribution from our wind farms. It’s nice to see so much of the money going towards improved energy efficiency, which is something we’re always promoting as a company.”

The funding for this year’s payout comes from SSE Airtricity’s four wind farms in West Limerick. The company’s Tournafulla, Rathcahill, Dromada and Athea wind farms have a combined capacity of over 100MW and power over 50,000 homes in the region.